Building construction



y 1962 R. A. DAMATO ETAL 3,033,740

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 25, 1956 INVENTORS RAPHAEL A. D' AMATO BY ROY E. REHM ATTORNEYS United 5 Claims. (Cl. 156-564) This invention relates to the manufacture of building.

materials, and more particularly to a method and means for forming corneror bridge pieces for use with insulated siding in the exterior finish of buildings, and to the cornerpieces so produced. This application is a division of our application Serial No. 599,991, filed July 25, 1956, which became abandoned August 24, 1960.

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A'Widely accepted material for the exterior finish of residential and other buildings known as insulated siding comprises a stiff backing of asphalt impregnated fibrous or cellulosic material covered with a finish layer of asphalt mixed with very finely crushed rock, into the surface of which layer is rolled a coating of slate granules. This material is commonly provided in boards of substan tial size, for example 14 by 43 inches approximately, and these boards are applied as an exterior finish to the side of the building, commonly with an overlap between the successive courses in the same manner as wood siding or clapboards. At the corners of the building the ends of the boards are, as first applied, exposed, and the invention is concerned with the provision of cornerpieces to conceal the ends of the siding so exposed. Since the siding is frequently provided with a pattern in its exterior surface, for example in the form of striations in the color of the slate granules or in the form of surface identations imitative of the grain of wood, it is important for satisfactory appearance of the finished building that the cornerpieces possess the same finish as the siding boards which they are to complete.

The invention provides a method and apparatus for the manufacture of such cornerpieces. According tothe invention a cornerpiece is manufactured from a piece of the same finish layer as the siding itself, shaped to fit the space at the corner of a building between two siding members and supported on a similarly shaped backing sheet of metal such as aluminum. In accordance with 1 the invention the finish layer employed is stripped from siding boards of the same lot as those with which the cornerpieces are to be used. The stripped finish layer is cut into strips of desired size and shape which are then coated with an adhesive and applied to metal backing sheets.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of a machine according to the invention for combining the finish layer strips with sheet metal backing strips;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a component of the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2 serving to coat the finish layer strips with adhesive prior to combination thereof with metal backing strips. 1

According to the invention, strips of finish coating cut to suitable size and shape and cleaned on their underside of adherent fibrous material are combined with metal backing plates or sheets. This operation is performed with a machine generally indicated at 10 and illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the combining machine of FIGS. 1 to 3 sheet metal plates 1 suitably dimensioned with respect to the strips 3 with which they are to be combined, are supported by guides 100 in a stack on a platform or magazine 102.

; sesame Fatented May 8, 1962 ice The strips or plates 1 are lifted from the stack by a car- 7 against finish coating strips 3 supported on a table 108.

The vacuum box 104 is connected with a suitable source of vacuum, not shown, through a flexible conduit 1 10 and is suspended on wheels or rollers (not shown) to permit it to move from end to end of a track 112 pivoted at one end on a pivot 114 in the frame 116 of machine 10. The box is provided with adjustable stops 118 and 120 which engage with fixed elements at the ends oftrack 112 to define end positions for the box travel, one over the platform 1.02 and the other over the table 108.

For uniformity in the asphalt coating applied by the t In FIG. 1 there is shown a pulley 128 afiixed coaxially with the pulley 124 at the pivoted end of the track. Pulley 128 is driven by a belt 130 which passes over a pulley 132 journaled in the machine frameand which in turn is driven, via a coaxial pulley (not shown) and belt 134 from the motor 136 which drives the rollers in coating unit 106. Obviously a separate motor may however be used.

.The box 104 may be releasably coupled to either half of the belt 122 for travel in either direction lengthwise of track 112. Two brackets 138 and 140 are afiixedto the box 104 adjacent the two halves of the belt 122. A

shoe 142 extends from bracket 138 beneath the half of the belt which moves from the. stack of plates 1 toward table108, and'a similar shoe 144 extends-from bracket 2 140 immediately adjacentthe half of the belt which moves 138 carries at one end a cam 148. When lever 146 is raised to the vertical position shown in FIG. 1, the belt will be pinched between cam 148 andshoe 142 with the result that the vacuum box will be carried from left to right in the figure. When the box is brought to a stop by the stop 118 in a position above the table 108, the continued motion of the belt will rotate lever 146 to disengage cam 148 from shoe 142. Conversely the vacuum box is carried in the opposite direction by raising a lever 150 pivoted in bracket 140 to pinch the lower half of the belt in FIG. 1 between shoe 144 and a cam 152 afiixed to lever 150. When the box is stopped at the left end of its travel by stop 120 in a position above the supporting plate 102, the continued motion of the belt will disengage the belt from cam 152 and shoe 144. Shops 154 provided on brackets 133 and 140 prevent rotation of levers 146 and 150 past the positions in which their cams frictionally engage the belt, and counterweights 156 may be provided on the levers to prevent inadvertent engagement of these cams with the belt.

The vacuum must be applied to box 104 when it reaches the left end of its travel above support 102 and must be maintained until the plate 1 picked up from support 102 has been coated at unit 106 and brought against the finish coating strip 3 on table 108. To this end a cam 158 is provided on box 104 which engages a follower 160 when the box reaches the left end-of it travel. The motion of follower 160 thus produced operates a switch 162 to energize the source of vacuum connected to box 104 via conduit 110. A similar switch 164 is fastened in the machine frame adjacent the opposite end of the track, ie, at the combining station formed by table 108, and, when actuated, releases the vacuum applied at box 104. Switch coating unit 106.

a a 3. 164 however is actuated not by motion ofthe vacuum box along the track but by rotation of the track about its pivot, when the track is lowered to press the plate 1 carried bythe vacuum box against the finish layer strip 3. lyingon pressing table 108. To this end an arm'166,

fastened to the track, is arranged to engage theswitch164 via an adjustable pin 163, the position of this, pin determining the angular position of the track at whichthe switch will be actuated to release the vacuum.

Track 112 is shifted to a plurality of positions for the successive phases of the cyclical operation of the machine 100i FIGS. 1 and'2. The track is coupled, adjacent fable 108, to a rod 170 which may be drawn downwardly I by means of a foot treadle 172. Rod170 is spring-biased in-an upward direction by means of a spring 174, engaged betweenabracket 176 affixed to frame 116 and a collar .178 affixedto rod 170. Oneposition for the track, preferably horizontal, is definedby 'fneans of a notch 130 in a plate 182 adjustably fixable on frame 116 and by means 7 Before box 104 is halted in its motion toward' pivot 114 by stop 120, itengages a lever 1%, moving it through a short angular rotation. A gear train indicated at 198 which includes a ratchet and pawl is actuated by this rotation to lift Support 102 :through the thickness of a plate 1. With vacuum box 104 returned toward support 102 there is left on table 108 an unfinished, flat laminated cornerpiece comprising a backing plate 1 and a finish layer strip 3'bonded together. A fork 200, set below the surface of table 108, is then rotated by means of a treadle 202 which is' coupled to the; fork by. a tie rod 204 and crank 206(F1G. 2). By this rotation of fork 200the unfinished cornerpiece is transferred to chain conveyer 3 208 disposed parallelto but laterally displaced from the the magazine ofplates lat support 102 to the table 108.

unit 106. V V t Rollers 188- and 190 are journaled above a bath of fluid asphalt or similar adhesive in a tank 192, heated by them by the vacuum box. The two rollers-"are driven by a motor 136, roller 188 turning on its upper surface in the. same direction as the motion of box 104 from the magazine station to the combining station and at a' lower linear speed than roller 190 tion. V

For each transferby box 1040f a plate from the magawhich rotates in the opposite direczine station to the combining station at table 108,11 strip 3 is laid on table 108 with the exterior face thereof down. Positioning elements indicated at 109 in FIG. 2 define the position in which the strip 3 is to be located on table 108. i 1 When vacuumbox 104 is brought to a halt over table 108 by stop 118, the plate 1 carried by the box will overlie a (strip 3 on table 108 in the register required for achievement of the finished cor'nerpiece.

-W ith'vacuurn box 104 brought to a stop over table 108, the track is lowered by pressurebn treadle 172 to press a the plate 1 against the strip 3, bonding the two together into a laminated structure by means of the adhesive acquired by the plate in its passage over coating unit 106; 'The lowered position of the track in which this bonding is power actuated, the downward stress on the track 112 is released. Latch 184 is then retracted by means 'of a lever 186 coupled thereto, and the track rises under the influence of spring 174 to a third angular position in whichthe end'thereof adjacent table 108 is higherthan in either of the previously described positions. In this third position vacuum box 104 can be returned to the magazine station at support 102 with "clearance from a heater-194. The rollers rotate in opposite directions" about axes perpendicular to the length of the track. Therollers are so mounted that the tangents to their upper surfaces lie in a plane parallel to the track and so spaced therefrom as to be engaged by the plates carried lpast general position of track 112. As placed on conveyer 208 the unfinished cornerpiece lies with itsfinish layer strip 3 uppermost and with its longdimension parallel to the length of the conveyer. conveyer 208 is driven by means of a motor 210 and includes, as shown in FIG. 2, two endless chains which pass over sprockets at the righthand end of the conveyer, as viewed in FIG. 2, this righthand end being not shown. l

A linear heating element 212 which may conveniently be electrically energized is supported above and centrally located with respect to chain conveyor 208, beneath a heat reflecting hood 214. During its passage along conveyer 208 the unfinished cornerpiece transferred from table 108 .Qto the conveyer is heated along a fold line in order that folding along this line will not crack the strip 3. A press suitable for this folding operation is described in our, copending application Serial No. 840,219, filed August 25, 1959, which also constitutes a division of our application Serial No. 599,991 above referred to. H 7

The coating unit 106 is illustrated in'FlG 3. It comprises a tank 192 in the side walls of which are journaled the rollers 188 and 100', coupled together via a chain drive 216 for rotation in opposite directionsby motor 136. A bath of liquid asphalt or the like is maintained in, tank 192 at a level sufiicient to insure contact thereof with each of the rollers188 and 190. The roller 188 over which theplates 1 first pass turns in such a direction 1 that its upper surface moves in the same direction as the plates, whereas the roller 190 turns in the opposite direction with a higher linear speed at its surface.

Roller 188 may have a length equal to the maximum width of the plates 1, in case these are trapezoidalrather than rectangular, in order to apply an adhesive coating over the whole undersurface of the plates as they are carried by vacuum box 104 0ver the coating unit. Roller 190 is engaged, on the side thereof emerging from the asphalt bath, by two scrapers 218 whichare mounted on a shaft 220 for adjustment lengthwise of the roller additional coating of adhesive of narrower width. this way a good bond is obtained over the central poraccording to the width of the plates to be treated. Shaft 220 is rotated to stress the scrapers against the roller by means of a lever 222 and spring 224. The scrapers are adjusted so that roller 190 applies' to the plates 1 an In tion of'the plates and strips combined while avoiding an 'objectionable extrusion of lthe adhesive at the long edges of the' finished cornerpiece;

The flat bonded backing-plate and finish layer units dischargedfrom conveyer 208 are ready for shaping into finished cornerpieces.

We claim: z p

'1. A machine for the manufacture of laminated sheets comprising a frame, a track mounted in the frame for motion transverse to its 'own length, a carriage supported on said track for motion lengthwise thereof, means to feed strips one by one to said carriage disposed atone position. lengthwise of said track, support means for additional strips disposed adjacent the path of said carriage at another position lengthwise of said track, ashesive dispensing means disposed adjacent the path of said carriage between said two 'positions, and means to move said track transversely of its own length adjacent said support means to stress a strip carried by said carriage against a strip on said support means.

2. A machine for the manufacture of laminated building material comprising a frame, a track mounted in said frame for motion transverse to its own length, a carriage mounted on said track for motion lengthwise thereof, strip feed means disposed adjacent the path of said carriage at one position lengthwise of said track, a pressing table disposed adjacent the path of said carriage at another position lengthwise of said track, adhesive dispensing means disposed adjacent the path of said carriage between said feed means and pressing table, and position ing means in said frame defining a first position for said track in which a strip carried by said carriage from said feed means to said table will engage said adhesive dispensing means, a second position in which said strip may be stressed against a second strip supported on said table, and a third position in which said carriage can return to said feed means without engagement with said adhesive dispensing means.

3. A machine for the manufacture of laminated building material comprising a frame, a track mounted in said frame for motion transverse to its own length, a carriage mounted on said track for motion lengthwise thereof, strip feed means disposed adjacent the path of said carriage at one positon lengthwise of said track, a pressing table disposed adjacent the path of said carriage at another position lengthwise of said track, adhesive dispensing means disposed adjacent the path of said carriage between said feed means and pressing table, drive means disposed on said track releasably engageable with said carriage, and positioning means in said frame defining a first position for said track in which a strip carried by said carriage from said feed means to said table will engage said adhesive dispensing means, a second position in which said strip may be stressed against a second str-ip supported on said table, and a third position in which said carriage can return to said feed means without engagement with said adhesive dispensing means.

4. A machine for the manufacture of laminated finish material for buildings comprising a frame, a track pivoted in the frame, a carriage supported on said track for motion lengthwise thereof, backing plate feed means disposed adjacent the pivot of said track, a fixed support for finish layer strips disposed adjacent said tracks remote from said pivot, means to rotate said track about said pivot twoard said fixed support, resilient means engaged between said track and frame stressing said track for opposite rotation, detent means engaged between said frame and track to hold said track in fixed angular position with respect to said frame, and adhesive dispensing means disposed between said feed means and fixed support in position to be engaged by a plate supported on said carriage when said detent means are engaged.

5. A machine for the manufacture of laminated building material comprising a frame, a track movably mounted in said frame, a carriage supported on said track for motion lengthwise thereof, strip feed means supported adjacent the path of said carriage at one position lengthwise of said track, fixed strip support means disposed adjacent the path of said carriage at a second position lengthwise of said track, a tank disposed between said feed means and fixed support, and two rollers turning in opposite directions about axes transverse to the length of said track disposed above said tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,768,586 Farley July 1, 1930 2,299,690 Giese Oct. 20, 1942 2,596,068 Bunch et al. May 6, 1952 2,625,978 Patterson Jan. 20, 1953 

2. A MECHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF LAMINATED BUILDING MATERIAL COMPRISING A FRAME, A TRACK MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME FOR MORTION TRANSVERSE TO ITS OWN LENGTH, A CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON SAID TRACK FOR MORTION LENGTHWISE THEREOF, STRIP FEED MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE PATH OF SAID CARRIAGE AT ONE POSITION LENGTHWISE OF SAID TRACK, A PRESSING TABLE DISPOSED ADJACENT THE PATH OF SAID CARRIAGE AT ANOTHER POSITION LENGTHWISE OF SAID TRACK, ADHESIVE DISPENSING MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE PATH OF SAID CARRIAGE BETWEEN SAID FEED MEANS AND PRESSING TABLE, AND POSITIONING MEANS IN SAID FRAME DEFINING A FIRST POSITION FOR SAID TRACK IN WHICH A STRIP CARRIED BY SAID CARRIAGE FROM SAID FEED MEANS TO SAID TABLE WILL ENGAGE SAID ADHESIVE DISPENSING MEANS, A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH SAID STRIP MAY BE STRESSED AGAINST A SECOND STRIP SUPPORTED ON SAID TABLE, AND A THIRD POSITION IN WHICH SAID CARRIAGE CAN RE- 